Shredded Hooker’s Willow Trunks.

This shredding is the work of one of our local Columbian Black-tailed bucks getting his antlers in form for encounters with other bucks in this mating season. The tree usually recovers and evidence of previous damage can be seen on the trunk on the left. These willows seem to be targeted at this time of year by the bucks perhaps due to the ASA in the bark. Of all the trees that are available on our property it seems that the Hooker’s Willow are the only ones that suffer this indignation!